Clay Roof Tiles Are a Beautiful, Durable Option

By Tammy Crosby, Editor-in-Chief of The House Designers

Building a new home involves a plethora of product choices to construct your home.  One of the most important components and investments of your home is what you choose for your roofing material. We've covered traditional roofing materials such as clay roofs in many house plans — a roofing material that has had aesthetic appeal for thousands of years.  Clay tiles include the traditional mission style barrel tiles that are recognizable on Spanish/Mediterranean homes to flat tiles that look like natural slate and wood shake.  What we like about the mission style tile is that you can apply it in a variety of designs and patterns including faux mission and creating patterns like serpentine patterns.

A clay roof tile is a great choice if you're looking for a very durable roof that is fire, wind and hail resistant. Premium companies like Boral® Roofing enhance these features with innovative manufacturing techniques producing Grade 1 clay tiles that last a lifetime.  It's very important when choosing a clay roof that you choose a product that has received the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Gold certification insuring they are not harmful to the environment and that they are sustainable.  Companies like Boral®, also offer online design tools like their Design-A-Blend to help you visualize different roof options on your new home that you can share with your builder or designer.

Clay roofing options come in a wide variety of styles and colors to fit any budget, including barrel tiles, which come in two varieties. The two-piece mission barrel tiles look like a barrel cut in half and were originally molded by clay craftsmen who molded the clay over their thighs to create the shape.  These tiles are overlapped and nailed into position in a variety of designs. Spanish tiles or one-piece “S” tiles have a slightly lower barrel and are less expensive.  

The styles of clay roofing material can fit lots of different home design styles like craftsman, modern, Florida, Mediterranean and European. One of the earliest clay profiles are Romano Pans featuring a flat bottom pan and raised sides that are capped with traditional clay tile tops for a classical European flair. They are available by Boral® in cool roof colors, which are perfect for saving on heating and cooling costs, particularly in warmer climates.

Flat style clay tiles are most economical because they are lightweight and can be interlocked for easy installation.  

If you’re looking for a versatile, earth-friendly product than you’ll want to consider BoralPure™ Smog Eating Tile.  This revolutionary technology reduces the formation of smog to protect your home and the environment.

You will have to consider the underlying support to bear the weight of a clay roof, but the aesthetic appeal, low maintenance and the fact that a clay roof can last decades is well worth the added support costs. 

Our favorite clay style house plans are The Rembrandt, The Cariati and The Vista Montagna. Check out the interior shots of these phenomenal houses as well.